Kanoon Ki Dastak
Jammu, March 25, 2025: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has raised serious concerns over the appointment of IAS officer M. Raju as Commissioner/Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), despite his name appearing in the CBI charge sheet in the infamous Arms Licences Scam.
During the hearing of PIL No. 09/2012 (Sheikh Mohammad Shafi & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.), the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary expressed strong displeasure, questioning the J&K Government’s decision. “Is there a dearth of honest IAS officers in J&K?” the Bench remarked while addressing AAG Raman Sharma, who represented the GAD.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, appearing for the petitioners, informed the court that the government had sent incomplete prosecution sanction proposals for three IAS officers—Yasha Mudgal, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, and Niraj Kumar—to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), leading to delays in action. The MHA, in its latest status report dated March 8, 2025, had asked J&K to furnish complete proposals along with essential documents within a week, but the government failed to comply.
The petitioners argued that while IAS officers are being shielded, prosecution sanctions against JKAS officers were granted as early as 2021, leading to multiple charge sheets by the CBI in special courts. Advocate Ahmed also pointed out that in past cases, courts had removed tainted officials, including a former Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, over corruption allegations.
Taking note of the MHA’s status report, the court directed the J&K Government to file an Action Taken Report on MHA’s February 21, 2025, communication and asked the CBI to submit a fresh status report before the next hearing. The court also instructed both parties to complete pleadings before the final hearing scheduled for April 24, 2025.